KATHMANDU: Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau arrested three persons on charge of smuggling wild animal's parts.

Acting on a tip-off, the CIB apprehended Binesh Bhandari (23), Anup Bartaula (33) and Bibek Bartaula (25) of Hetaunda, Makawanpur from Balaju of Kathmandu, and seized a leopard hide from their possession on Sunday.

The suspects told the CIB that they smuggled three leopard hides and some bones from India via Birganj, and the rest of the contraband was hidden near the Platform No. 1 of the Birganj Customs Point, according to CIB Spokespersons SP Meera Chaudhary.

Upon receiving the information from the CIB, the Parsa District Police Office discovered two white boxes with two leopard hides and 34.9 kg bones of wild animals. The seized animal parts were handed over to the Parsa District Forest Office for further investigation.

The suspects were handed over to the Kathmandu District Forest Office for further investigation and action, the CIB said.

They were trying to find potential buyers to sell the animal parts in Kathmandu when they were arrested.

If convicted of smuggling of wildlife and animal parts, the suspects will be jailed for up to one year.